Automatic figure toy



(No Model.)

` 2 Shets-Sheet 1. A. T. WANNENWETSCH.

` AUTOMATIC FIGURE TOY. N0. 539,715.

T Patented-May 21, 1.895.

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man@ 1 f -VUNrrn STATES ATENT Fries@ ANDREW T. VANNENWETSCH, OIVESTFIELD, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC FIGURE TOY.

SPEUIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,715, dated May 21,1895.

Application ned october 14, 1 ses To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW T. WANNEN- WETSOH, a citizen kof the UnitedStates of America, residing at Westfield, in the county of Chautauqua.and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Automatic Figure Toys, of which the following is a specification,reference-being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Myinvention relates to an automatic toy of that class which carries amotor for propelling the same a certain length .of time and whichembodies in its construction an automaton ot' any desired character thatcontributes materially to the attractiveness ot' the toy and theamusement of its owner.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings andto be hereinafter described in detail, I provide a wheeled vehicle ofthe class technically known as tricycles, on the seat of which ismounted the figure whose legs rest upon and are actuated by the movementof the propelling mechanism. This propelling mechanism is preferably inthe form of oscillating or reciprocating pedals which are hung at theirfront ends on the main frame and linked to the cranks on the axle of themachine; and the miniature ywheeled frame is propelled by the powerobtained from a spring motor which is mounted or carried beneath theseat occupied bythe automaton,the power of the spring being communicatedthrough gearing from the springarbor to the rear cranked axle of thetoy. To provide for steering the toy either in a straight line or arounda curve, I provide the usual front steering wheel to which is looselyconnected a steering handle designed to be grasped by the hands of thefigure seated on the machine; but-this steering spindle is designed tobe turned independently of the steering handle and is provided withmeans for conveniently clamping the same in xed relation, after it hasbeen adjusted, to the rame of the machine, so that the vehicle can becaused to travel a straight course or to describe a circle. As thesimplest embodiment of the steering means, I have made the steeringspindle of such length Vthat it extends above its bearing in the frame,and this ex- Serial No. 488,157. `(No model.)

my invention relates to understand the same,

I have illustrated it in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, and in which- Figure lis a plan view with a portionof the i igu re broken away to show the construction of the machine.Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsectional View. Figisadetailviewofthesteering mechanism to more clearly showthe means for clamping thesteering-spindle in lIixed relation to the miniature tricycle.

Like letters of reference denote correspondingparts in all the figuresof the drawings, referring to which-` A designates the cranked main axleof the machine which turns freely in stationary bearings on the uprightsb, b, ot the main frame B, and on the ends of the axle A are fixed thecarrying wheels C, C, which turn with the axle andcause the machine totravel over the ground or other surface. The horizontal portions ormembers of the frame B converge from the upright rear standards b, b,and meet at the pointed front extremity of the frame which sustains thevertical bearing D in which is journaled the spindle E that is formedinto the fork e to accommodate the front steering wheel which is thusdisposed centrally with relation to the machine and frame. The upper endot' this spindle is extended through the bearing D and it is provided,at this extended portion, with external screw threads to receive the nutE which can be turned down upon the upper part of the bearing D to clampthe spindle in fixed rela- It will be seen that when tion to the frame.the spindle is turned to bring the steering wheel in line with theframe, the machine is adapted to travel in a straight course; but itwill be evident that if the steering wheel be set at an angle, either tothe right or let't of the central line of the machine, the wheel willcause the machine to describe a circle, or an arc thereof. It isintended that the set tended portion is threaded to accommodate a nutshall be adjusted toI cause the machine to ICO travel in a certainpath,and after the nut has been tightened the motor will propel the machinein this course until the spring runs down or the motor is arrested.

The horizontal side members of the machine frame are connected togetherby a transverse bar F at a suitable point in rear of the verticalspindle bearing; and on this transverse bar are hung or pivoted thefor-r peiling the tricycle.

On the nprights b b of the framefB ismountedt-the seat H on which sitsthe figure I, and the legs i of this Iigureare pivotally hung ron thebails t. The rear ends of thesebails are carried upto the seat H, andthe endsrof the bails are fitted in the loops j of the connecting bar Jwhich is 'formed or bent to provide the seriesof veyes to accommodatethe ends of the bails, said barbeing suitably fastened to the seat.Beneath this-seat is mounted or hung the motorJ which is of -the varietyor class known as spring motors. The spring k has its arbor mountedi'n-a suitable frame, and to this spring arbor is fastened a gear wheelor pinion which meshes withone of a train of transmitting gears, one ofwhich train of gears meshes with a pinion on the rear axl'e A ofthemachine, whereby the power of the spring istransmitted and applied tothe axle A to propel thevtricycle and reciprocatevthe pedals to give tothe feet and-legs'of the rider the `appearance of propelling themachine. The motor spring may be wound or put nnder tension by acrankattached to one end of theshaft, or by means of a key.

The operationeel my toy will be-readily understood from the foregoingdescription taken in connection with thedrawings.

It is evident that slight changes in the form and proportion of partsand details of construction may be made without departing from thespirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A self-propelling figure toy, having the main frame with therectangular open motor supporting frame and the vertical spindle bearingat its front end and the transverse bar, the cranked axle, the seat, themotor arranged beneath theseat andl geared to the axle, the lpedals hungon the transverse bar at the front of the frame and connected to thecranks of the axle, a figure on the seathaving its legs resting on thepedals and hung by bails which are connectedto eyes provided on a barfixed to the.seatand the steeringspindle fitted in the `bearingandconnected with the arms of th'e'figure and having the steering wheel andmeans for locking the spindle in fixed relation to the machine frame,.asand for the pn rpose set forth.

2. A toy consisting ofthe main frame having thesteering wheelat itsforward end and having the rectangular supplemental frame, the crankedaxle mounted in the rectangular frame and carrying the wheels, the motorhungin'thesaid frame, the pedals connected to the cranked`axle,vtheconnecting barhaving the eyesor loops and securedtotherectangular frame, the figure having the limbs connected to thepedals,and the bails having one end connected to the limbs andthe other endsconnected to theloops of the connecting bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in .presen f:e-of twowitnesses.

l ANDREW T. WANNENWETSCH.

Witnesses:

W. H. MILLS, Mlno A. Darcos.

